Estimates based on management fee + average ETF MER. Actual costs vary by portfolio selection. Wealthsimple Generation (2M+) is 0.20% management fee and not shown.
ETF Portfolio Breakdown
Wealthsimple Core Portfolios
Risk Level
Equity %
Fixed Income %
Typical ETFs Used
Conservative
30%
70%
iShares XGRO / XCNS-type blend
Balanced
50%
50%
iShares, Vanguard, BMO mix
Growth
70%
30%
VCN, XUU, XEF, ZAG-type mix
Aggressive
90%
10%
Global equity tilt
All Equity
100%
0%
Broad market equities only
Questwealth Portfolios
Portfolio
Equity %
Fixed Income %
ETF Approach
Income
20%
80%
QFF + QFI Questrade ETFs + third party
Conservative
40%
60%
Balanced blend
Balanced
60%
40%
Standard diversified
Growth
80%
20%
Equity-tilted
Aggressive Growth
100%
0%
All equity; global diversification
Account Types Available
Account Type
Wealthsimple Managed
Questwealth
TFSA
✅
✅
RRSP
✅
✅
FHSA
✅
✅
RESP
✅
✅
RRIF
✅
✅
LIRA
✅
✅
Personal non-registered
✅
✅
Joint non-registered
✅
✅
Corporate
✅
✅
RESP Comparison
Feature
Wealthsimple Managed
Questwealth
RESP account available
✅ Yes
✅ Yes
Target-date glide path (age-based)
❌ No
✅ Yes
Shared family RESP
✅ Yes
✅ Yes
CESG grant processing
✅ Yes
✅ Yes
CLB (Canada Learning Bond)
✅ Yes
✅ Yes
ACES grant (AB)
✅ Yes
✅ Yes
SRI / Responsible Investing
Feature
Wealthsimple
Questwealth
ESG / SRI portfolios
✅ Yes (dedicated SRI portfolios)
✅ Yes (SRI portfolios)
Halal (Shariah-compliant)
✅ Yes — unique to Wealthsimple in Canada
❌ No
ESG ETF MER premium
+0.10–0.15% above core
+0.05–0.15% above core
Who Should Choose Each Robo-Advisor
Choose Wealthsimple Managed If…
Choose Questwealth If…
You’re a beginner who wants a polished app
You have $25,000+ and want to minimize fees
You want a Halal-compliant portfolio
You want a target-date RESP glide path
You have under $1,000 to start
You’re already a Questrade brokerage client
You value brand trust and easy UX
You’re comfortable with a slightly simpler interface
You want Wealthsimple Cash + Tax bundled
You want maximum cost efficiency
You plan to upgrade to Generation at $2M+
You don’t need the Wealthsimple ecosystem
The Verdict
At small balances (under $25,000), Wealthsimple’s better user experience and no minimum make it the practical choice — the fee difference is minimal in dollar terms. At $50,000+, Questwealth’s lower total cost becomes meaningful; a $75–$375 annual savings compounds significantly over decades. If you’re a Questrade self-directed client already, Questwealth is especially seamless since it integrates within the same platform.
Bottom line: Wealthsimple for beginners and ecosystem users. Questwealth for cost-focused investors with $25,000+.